CENTENNIAL, Colo. – September 6, 2017 – Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) members of Local 32 will conduct informational picketing on Sunday, September 10, 2017, from 8 a.m. to noon at Oakland International Airport in Terminal 2 to inform the public about their continued plight for a fair contract with the Southwest Airlines (SWA). The union has been in negotiations with SWA for more than five years.

“Southwest Airlines needs to be held accountable for their actions in our negotiations for a fair contract,” said Bret Oestreich, AMFA National Director. “We have negotiated in good faith for more than five years, and the company refuses to give us the same courtesy. It is time for public to be made aware that the airline that claims to have their best interests at heart is failing to treat their aircraft maintenance technicians fairly.”

Negotiations between AMFA and SWA began in 2012 and in late 2016, the union filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Arizona alleging that SWA violated the Railway Labor Act.

“Southwest Airlines has continued to post record profits, but refuses to reward its employees. We want the public to know that the company is trying to outsource its aircraft maintenance. We want the public to know that the company is more interested in their profits than the public’s safety,” said Earl Clark, AMFA Region I Director.

Earl Clark will be on hand to speak with media and answer questions from 9 a.m. to noon at the informational picketing event this Sunday.

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The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association was established in 1962 as a craft specific union that represents Aircraft Maintenance Technician and related employees. AMFA is committed to elevating the professional standing of technicians and to achieving progressive improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions of the skilled craftsmen and women it represents. AMFA currently represents these skilled employees at Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. For more information about AMFA visit www.amfanational.org.